PlilSTIS. 3 



Suborder II. HYPO T It E M I. 



Gill-openings ventral, below the base of the pectoral fin. 



Fam. 1. PRISTID.F. 



Mouth inferior. Snout produced into a long flat lamina armed with 

 a series of strong teeth along each edge. No nictitating membrane ; 

 spiracles present, large ; 5 gill-openings. Body moderately depressed, 

 elongate. Two dorsal fins, no anal; caudal of the heteroeercal type. 



1. PRISTIS. 



Latham, Tr. Linn. Soc. ii. 1794, p. 276 ; Miill. & Henle. Plagiost. p. 105 (1841) ; 

 A. Dum. Hist. Poiss. i. p. 471 (I860) ; Griinth. Cat. Fish. viii. p. 436 (1870). 



Mouth transverse, nearly straight; teeth minute, obtuse, pavement- 

 like. First dorsnl fin opposite or close to the base of the ventrals. 



Seas of the temperate and tropical regions, some species ascending 

 rivers. 



1. PRISTIS PERROTETL 



Miill. & Henle, t. c. p. 108 ; A. Dum. t. c. p. 474 ; Peters, Re'se Mossamb. iv. p. 9 

 (1868) ; Giinth. t. c. p. 436 ; Day, Fish. Ind. p. 729, pi. cxci. fig. 1 (1878). 



17-21 pairs of rostral teeth, not trenchant behind, and distant from 

 one another. First dorsal originating in advance of ventrals, second not 



Fig. 





I'risiis perroteti. 

 Indian Ocean, after Day (l'i?h. hid.). } r 



much smaller. Root of pectoral in advance of first gill-opening. A 

 small lower caudal lobe. Uniform greyish. Reaches a length of 

 3 metres. 



b2 



